Union Home Ministry approves Z+security cover for Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan

NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Saturday said that Z+ security cover of CRPF has been extended to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who earlier today staged an impromptu sit-in on the roadside in Kerala against SFI black flag protest against his motorcade, while he was enroute to a function in the state.

The CRPF will soon take over the security of the Kerala Governor, who till now was receiving state category security cover.”Union Home Ministry has informed Kerala Raj Bhavan that Z+ security cover of CRPF is being extended to Hon’ble Governor and Kerala Raj Bhavan”, the Governor posted on social media platform X soon after the incident.

Khan alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was to blame for the “lawlessness” in the state. “I was supposed to attend a meeting at 11 am. Some people tried to hit my car when I reached here. I don’t have any problem if somebody shows the back flag from a distance. But I will get down if somebody gets near my car. There were police officials here and my only question is why they allowed the protesters to hit the car. I am not blaming the police because it is the Chief Minister of the state who is promoting lawlessness in the state”, Khan said.

#WATCH | "I will not leave from here. Police is giving them protection, " says Governor Arif Mohammed Khan after SFI activists held a protest against him in Kollam. Police present on the spot https://t.co/nQHF9PWqpr pic.twitter.com/RHFFBRCh9s

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2024

“He is giving direction to the police to give protection to these lawbreakers. Many of them are those against whom several criminal cases are pending in court. More than 40 cases are pending. It is he who is giving protection to these people. Police have booked 17 people. These protesters are paid by the Chief Minister on a daily basis”, the Kerala governor said.

Khan said that the Chief Minister has been indulging in such acts to hide the government’s failure. “There were more than 50 protesters. The police can’t remove protesters because the Chief Minister doesn’t want to. Lawlessness must not be tolerated. They damaged my car during their protest in Thiruvanthapuran. The number of policemen was largers than protesters. This is been done in order to divert attention from the Kerala government’s failure”, he said.

A visibly infuriated Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan staged a protest on the wayside at Nilamel in Kollam, alleging police inaction after Student Federation of India (SFI) workers waved black flags at his motorcade. He stepped out of the car and sat on a chair on the roadside and refused to move unless the protestors were taken into custody. He demanded a copy of the FIR against the protesters. (ANI)